used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Since the world began there was never a truer, sweeter love, nor one that promised more fairly, but, alas! none over which threatening clouds of Fate ever hung more darkly.
alasexclamationUS /əˈlæs/
used to show sadness, pity, or regret
From this reading Since the world began there was never a truer, sweeter love, nor one that promised more fairly, but, alas! none over which threatening clouds of Fate ever hung more darkly.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading "Of all that life can teach us, There's naught so true as this: The winds of Fate blow ever, But ever blow amiss."
amissadjectiveUS /əˈmɪs/
not functioning properly
From this reading "Of all that life can teach us, There's naught so true as this: The winds of Fate blow ever, But ever blow amiss."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Two weeks passed away, and the lovers kept the secret of their engagement with difficulty, for Love was passionately anxious to show his happiness to the whole world.
eagerly desirous
From this reading Two weeks passed away, and the lovers kept the secret of their engagement with difficulty, for Love was passionately anxious to show his happiness to the whole world.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Of all that life can teach us, There's naught so true as this: The winds of Fate blow ever, But ever blow amiss."
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Two weeks passed away, and the lovers kept the secret of their engagement with difficulty, for Love was passionately anxious to show his happiness to the whole world.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Since the world began there was never a truer, sweeter love, nor one that promised more fairly, but, alas! none over which threatening clouds of Fate ever hung more darkly.
exhale hard
From this reading "Of all that life can teach us, There's naught so true as this: The winds of Fate blow ever, But ever blow amiss."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Of all that life can teach us, There's naught so true as this: The winds of Fate blow ever, But ever blow amiss."
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But Dainty's shrinking from her cousins' comments made her hold her lover to the compact of silence, hoping by delay to win from them more kindly thoughts.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "Of all that life can teach us, There's naught so true as this: The winds of Fate blow ever, But ever blow amiss."
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading Since the world began there was never a truer, sweeter love, nor one that promised more fairly, but, alas! none over which threatening clouds of Fate ever hung more darkly.
commentsnounUS /ˈkɑːments/
plural of “comment” — a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading But Dainty's shrinking from her cousins' comments made her hold her lover to the compact of silence, hoping by delay to win from them more kindly thoughts.
compactnounUS /ˈkɑːmpækt/
a small cosmetics case with a mirror; to be carried in a woman's purse
From this reading But Dainty's shrinking from her cousins' comments made her hold her lover to the compact of silence, hoping by delay to win from them more kindly thoughts.
cousinsnounUS /ˈkʌzənz/
plural of “cousin” — the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading But Dainty's shrinking from her cousins' comments made her hold her lover to the compact of silence, hoping by delay to win from them more kindly thoughts.
Dainty's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Dainty's shrinking from her cousins' comments made her hold her lover to the compact of silence, hoping by delay to win from them more kindly thoughts.
darklyadverbUS /ˈdɑːrkli/
without light
From this reading Since the world began there was never a truer, sweeter love, nor one that promised more fairly, but, alas! none over which threatening clouds of Fate ever hung more darkly.
cause to be slowed down or delayed
From this reading But Dainty's shrinking from her cousins' comments made her hold her lover to the compact of silence, hoping by delay to win from them more kindly thoughts.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading Two weeks passed away, and the lovers kept the secret of their engagement with difficulty, for Love was passionately anxious to show his happiness to the whole world.
ELLSWORTHnounUS /ˈelzwərθ/
United States jurist and the third chief justice of the United States Supreme Court (1745-1807)
From this reading THE ELLSWORTH HONOR.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading Two weeks passed away, and the lovers kept the secret of their engagement with difficulty, for Love was passionately anxious to show his happiness to the whole world.
at any time
From this reading "Of all that life can teach us, There's naught so true as this: The winds of Fate blow ever, But ever blow amiss."
to certain extent or degree
From this reading Since the world began there was never a truer, sweeter love, nor one that promised more fairly, but, alas! none over which threatening clouds of Fate ever hung more darkly.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading "Of all that life can teach us, There's naught so true as this: The winds of Fate blow ever, But ever blow amiss."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Two weeks passed away, and the lovers kept the secret of their engagement with difficulty, for Love was passionately anxious to show his happiness to the whole world.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But Dainty's shrinking from her cousins' comments made her hold her lover to the compact of silence, hoping by delay to win from them more kindly thoughts.
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading Two weeks passed away, and the lovers kept the secret of their engagement with difficulty, for Love was passionately anxious to show his happiness to the whole world.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But Dainty's shrinking from her cousins' comments made her hold her lover to the compact of silence, hoping by delay to win from them more kindly thoughts.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Two weeks passed away, and the lovers kept the secret of their engagement with difficulty, for Love was passionately anxious to show his happiness to the whole world.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading But Dainty's shrinking from her cousins' comments made her hold her lover to the compact of silence, hoping by delay to win from them more kindly thoughts.
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
From this reading THE ELLSWORTH HONOR.
-ing form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading But Dainty's shrinking from her cousins' comments made her hold her lover to the compact of silence, hoping by delay to win from them more kindly thoughts.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading Since the world began there was never a truer, sweeter love, nor one that promised more fairly, but, alas! none over which threatening clouds of Fate ever hung more darkly.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Two weeks passed away, and the lovers kept the secret of their engagement with difficulty, for Love was passionately anxious to show his happiness to the whole world.
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
From this reading But Dainty's shrinking from her cousins' comments made her hold her lover to the compact of silence, hoping by delay to win from them more kindly thoughts.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading "Of all that life can teach us, There's naught so true as this: The winds of Fate blow ever, But ever blow amiss."
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading Since the world began there was never a truer, sweeter love, nor one that promised more fairly, but, alas! none over which threatening clouds of Fate ever hung more darkly.
a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
From this reading But Dainty's shrinking from her cousins' comments made her hold her lover to the compact of silence, hoping by delay to win from them more kindly thoughts.
loversnounUS /ˈlʌvərz/
plural of “lover” — a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
From this reading Two weeks passed away, and the lovers kept the secret of their engagement with difficulty, for Love was passionately anxious to show his happiness to the whole world.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading But Dainty's shrinking from her cousins' comments made her hold her lover to the compact of silence, hoping by delay to win from them more kindly thoughts.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Since the world began there was never a truer, sweeter love, nor one that promised more fairly, but, alas! none over which threatening clouds of Fate ever hung more darkly.
naughtnounUS /nɔːt/
a quantity of no importance
From this reading "Of all that life can teach us, There's naught so true as this: The winds of Fate blow ever, But ever blow amiss."
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Since the world began there was never a truer, sweeter love, nor one that promised more fairly, but, alas! none over which threatening clouds of Fate ever hung more darkly.
not one, and not any
From this reading Since the world began there was never a truer, sweeter love, nor one that promised more fairly, but, alas! none over which threatening clouds of Fate ever hung more darkly.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Since the world began there was never a truer, sweeter love, nor one that promised more fairly, but, alas! none over which threatening clouds of Fate ever hung more darkly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Of all that life can teach us, There's naught so true as this: The winds of Fate blow ever, But ever blow amiss."
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Since the world began there was never a truer, sweeter love, nor one that promised more fairly, but, alas! none over which threatening clouds of Fate ever hung more darkly.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Since the world began there was never a truer, sweeter love, nor one that promised more fairly, but, alas! none over which threatening clouds of Fate ever hung more darkly.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Two weeks passed away, and the lovers kept the secret of their engagement with difficulty, for Love was passionately anxious to show his happiness to the whole world.
passionatelyadverbUS /ˈpæʃənətli/
with passion
From this reading Two weeks passed away, and the lovers kept the secret of their engagement with difficulty, for Love was passionately anxious to show his happiness to the whole world.
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading Since the world began there was never a truer, sweeter love, nor one that promised more fairly, but, alas! none over which threatening clouds of Fate ever hung more darkly.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading Two weeks passed away, and the lovers kept the secret of their engagement with difficulty, for Love was passionately anxious to show his happiness to the whole world.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Two weeks passed away, and the lovers kept the secret of their engagement with difficulty, for Love was passionately anxious to show his happiness to the whole world.
shrinkingnounUS /ˈʃrɪŋkɪŋ/
process or result of becoming less or smaller
From this reading But Dainty's shrinking from her cousins' comments made her hold her lover to the compact of silence, hoping by delay to win from them more kindly thoughts.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading But Dainty's shrinking from her cousins' comments made her hold her lover to the compact of silence, hoping by delay to win from them more kindly thoughts.
SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Since the world began there was never a truer, sweeter love, nor one that promised more fairly, but, alas! none over which threatening clouds of Fate ever hung more darkly.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "Of all that life can teach us, There's naught so true as this: The winds of Fate blow ever, But ever blow amiss."
sweeteradjectiveUS /ˈswiːtər/
comparative of “sweet” — having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading Since the world began there was never a truer, sweeter love, nor one that promised more fairly, but, alas! none over which threatening clouds of Fate ever hung more darkly.
impart skills or knowledge to
From this reading "Of all that life can teach us, There's naught so true as this: The winds of Fate blow ever, But ever blow amiss."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Of all that life can teach us, There's naught so true as this: The winds of Fate blow ever, But ever blow amiss."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ELLSWORTH HONOR.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Two weeks passed away, and the lovers kept the secret of their engagement with difficulty, for Love was passionately anxious to show his happiness to the whole world.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But Dainty's shrinking from her cousins' comments made her hold her lover to the compact of silence, hoping by delay to win from them more kindly thoughts.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Since the world began there was never a truer, sweeter love, nor one that promised more fairly, but, alas! none over which threatening clouds of Fate ever hung more darkly.
There's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Of all that life can teach us, There's naught so true as this: The winds of Fate blow ever, But ever blow amiss."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Of all that life can teach us, There's naught so true as this: The winds of Fate blow ever, But ever blow amiss."
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading But Dainty's shrinking from her cousins' comments made her hold her lover to the compact of silence, hoping by delay to win from them more kindly thoughts.
threateningadjectiveUS /ˈθretənɪŋ/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading Since the world began there was never a truer, sweeter love, nor one that promised more fairly, but, alas! none over which threatening clouds of Fate ever hung more darkly.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Two weeks passed away, and the lovers kept the secret of their engagement with difficulty, for Love was passionately anxious to show his happiness to the whole world.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading "Of all that life can teach us, There's naught so true as this: The winds of Fate blow ever, But ever blow amiss."
trueradjectiveUS /ˈtruːər/
comparative of “true” — consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading Since the world began there was never a truer, sweeter love, nor one that promised more fairly, but, alas! none over which threatening clouds of Fate ever hung more darkly.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two weeks passed away, and the lovers kept the secret of their engagement with difficulty, for Love was passionately anxious to show his happiness to the whole world.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Of all that life can teach us, There's naught so true as this: The winds of Fate blow ever, But ever blow amiss."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Since the world began there was never a truer, sweeter love, nor one that promised more fairly, but, alas! none over which threatening clouds of Fate ever hung more darkly.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Two weeks passed away, and the lovers kept the secret of their engagement with difficulty, for Love was passionately anxious to show his happiness to the whole world.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Since the world began there was never a truer, sweeter love, nor one that promised more fairly, but, alas! none over which threatening clouds of Fate ever hung more darkly.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading Two weeks passed away, and the lovers kept the secret of their engagement with difficulty, for Love was passionately anxious to show his happiness to the whole world.
be the winner in a contest or competition; be victorious
From this reading But Dainty's shrinking from her cousins' comments made her hold her lover to the compact of silence, hoping by delay to win from them more kindly thoughts.
plural of “wind” — air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading "Of all that life can teach us, There's naught so true as this: The winds of Fate blow ever, But ever blow amiss."
in the company of; together with
From this reading Two weeks passed away, and the lovers kept the secret of their engagement with difficulty, for Love was passionately anxious to show his happiness to the whole world.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Since the world began there was never a truer, sweeter love, nor one that promised more fairly, but, alas! none over which threatening clouds of Fate ever hung more darkly.
